Study on tourism sites’ carrying capacity pushed

CEBU CITY — Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto has suggested that national government agencies carry out a scientific study on the carrying capacity of tourism sites because many local government units (LGUs) do not have the resources to conduct such an undertaking.

Carrying capacity has become a critical issue in determining tourism sustainability.

Chatto is particularly concerned because Bohol is teeming with foreign and local tourists and it is important to know the maximum number of visitors that can be accommodated without significantly affecting the state of the environment, the level of the visitor’s satisfaction and the local culture.

In the Forum on Sustainable Tourism held in Tagbilaran City last month, he suggested that the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) identify the tourism areas that need the study.

“The national government can fund the studies and hopefully present the figures to local government and other tourism stakeholders for possible policy making and implementation to maintain a sustainable destination,” Chatto said.

According Carlos Libosada Jr., former research and project officer of DOT and a professor at the University of the Philippines Institute of Tourism, carrying capacity can even be categorized into environmental and social concerns.

Libosada said environmental carrying capacity takes into consideration the impacts tourism brings in an area, including waste generation, food and water consumption as well as how too many people in a hiking trail can cause soil erosion.